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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to awareness of and access to health care service programs |
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available during a disaster or emergency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 418.054 and 418.055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.054. EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SPECIALTY CARE |
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POPULATIONS. The division, in consultation with the Department of |
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State Health Services and local governmental entities that have |
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established emergency management plans, shall develop a plan to |
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increase the capabilities of local emergency shelters in the |
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provision of shelter and care for specialty care populations during |
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a disaster. |
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Sec. 418.055. ACCESS TO LOCAL VOLUNTEER NETWORKS; VOLUNTEER |
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MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS. (a) The division, in consultation with the |
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Department of State Health Services, shall increase awareness of |
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and encourage local government emergency response teams to utilize |
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services provided by local volunteer networks, including the |
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Medical Reserve Corps, that are available in the area to respond |
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during a disaster or emergency. |
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(b) The division shall develop a plan to create and manage |
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state-controlled volunteer mobile medical units in each public |
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health region to assist counties that lack access to a volunteer |
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network described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is |
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required to implement a provision of this Act only if the |
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legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If |
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the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, the division may, but is not required to, implement a |
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provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |